Permutation switch



B. A. BELS PERMUTATION SWITCH April 15, 1958 Filed May 28, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 1 M HHM INVENTOR BASI L A. BELS ATTORNEYJ,

April 15, 1958 B. A. BELS PERMUTATION SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May28, 1957 mm- M mm Q mm mm INVENTOR BASIL A. BELS ATTORNEYj tatesPERMUTATIQN SWETCH Basil A. Bels, Great Neck, N. Y., assignor signments,to the United tates of sented by the Secretary of the Navy by mesneasrepre sea The present invention relates to position selector switchesand more particularly to a permutation switch which can be locked in itsselected switch positions.

Heretofore selector switches have been used for setting predeterminedpositions of selective electrical circuit by means which operatesdifierent contact arms and subsequently holds the contacts in position.Dififerent keys or settings are provided for setting different positionsof the control arms of the switch to provide difierent circuits and thedevice which sets the contacts must be held in its set position tomaintain the contacts in their positions and separate keys must be usedfor different switches.

The device of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of theprior art by providing a locking mechanism which locks the switchcontacts in position after they have been set by a key. After lockingthe contacts in position, the key can be removed and used for settingcontact positions of other like switches or the key can be changed toset other switches for different arranged circuits.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide apermutation switch which can be set and locked in position.

Another object is to provide a permutation switch which is easily setfor difi'erent arrangements of circuits.

Still another object is to provide a permutation switch which will makeand maintain good contacts for difierent circuits.

Yet another object is to provide a device which will interconnect anychosen circuits through a switch according to any chosen combinationselected by a spring contact positioning device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a permutation switch whichcan be cleared instantly and reset for a different combination withoutaltering the structure of the switch.

A further object is to provide a key operated switch through whichcircuits can be established according to the setting of the key and thenlooked in position.

Other and more specific objects of this invention will become apparentupon a more careful consideration of the following detailed descriptionwhen taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an elevational side view of the switch illustrating the keyslots, and the insulating partitions held in position by upper and lowerplates;

Fig. 2 is a cross section along lines 2--2 and rotated through 90degrees to illustrate one of the spring contact arm assemblies and theposition of the parallel contact rods relative to the spring contactarms;

Fig. 3 is a cross section along line 3-3 illustrating the lockingmechanism;

Fig. 4 is a cross section of Fig. 3 along lines 4-4 illustrating theform of the locking mechanism housing and the relationship of the partstherein;

Fig. 5 is an elevational side view illustrating the key re- IQQ quiredto set the spring contact arms and to operate the locking mechanism; and

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the body of the key, illustratingthe manner in which the key levers are secured to the body.

In accordance with the present invention, a permutation switch isprovided for selectively completing electrical circuits between twobanks of a plurality of stationary terminals. A plurality of contactarms or springs are positioned within the switch with one end thereofpermanently connected to one bank of the stationary terminals and theother end normally in an open circuit position. The contact arms areadapted to be selectively positioned in contact with the otherstationary terminals in order to complete groups of predeterminedcircuits. For the purpose of positioning the contact arms in theirdesired position, in contact with a desired terminal contact, a key isprovided. The key has a centrally located guidepost and is adapted to beprovided with a plurality of leaves which can be inserted into theswitch. The leaves make contact with specific spring contact armsforcing them into position adjacent to their desired contact terminals.The post of the key has a plunger passing therethrough which whenpressed downwardly contacts a crank mechanism, on which the contact armsare pivotably mounted, forcing the crank downwardly and at the same timemoving the contact arms into contact with their respective terminalcontact. A locking trigger is positioned adjacent to the crankcooperating therewith to lock the crank and the contact arms in theirrespective places. When the selected circuit is no longer needed thelocking rigger can be tripped to release the crank and the springcontacts which return to their normally open position.

Referring now to the drawings, the switch of the present inventioncomprises a frame having identical upper and lower plates 12 and 13 andend plates 14 and 15 as sembled together by screws 16 on the endsurface. The upper and lower plates have slots 17 therein which receivethe ends 18 of insulating plate sections 231 made of any suitablematerial such as Bakelite, pl? nylon, mica, etc. Each of the insulatingsecuo =ns is formed with a flat face surface 22 and the opposite facehas a countersunk area 23 which has the same depth as a slot 24 whichextends into th countersunk area. The countersunk area provides space inwhich a spring contact assembly 25 (shown in. Fig. 2} is pivotahlysecured about a rod 26 and insulated therefrom by any suitable coveringsuch as nylon.

A spacer plate 27 of nylon laminate or any other suitable insulatingmaterial is positi..ned hetwecn end plate 14 and the outermostinsulating plate section 21 and on the other end the central portion ofthe upper plate is cut away to allow passage of an insulating plate 28to which electrical terminals 31 are connected. A spacer plate 32 ispositioned between the end plate 15 and the insulating plate 255 andseparated therefrom by spacer washers 33 which provides a space for thecontact wire which extends from the terminal to stationary contact rods34. The contact rods eraend at right angles across the switch, parallelto the upper plate and are then secured at the ends thereof in spacerplate 12"]. For the purpose of illustration one continuous wire formseach of the terminal contacts secured to the insulation plate and thecontact rods and the terminal ends are shown as extending in oppositedirections on a 45 degree angle for the purpose of simplifyingconnections.

The switch is arranged with a locking mechanism assembly 35, bettershown in Figs. 3 and 4, which has three insulating plates 21. and threespring contact assemblies on each side thereof. Between the outermostinsulating plate and spring assembly, the insulating plate 28 with theelectrical terminals thereon is secured to provide means for connectingthe stationary contact rods 34, and suitable spacer plates 27 and 32respectively separate the end plates from the adjacent insulating plates21 and 23. An insulating plate 29 is also provided to separate one wallof the locking mechanism and the countersunk side of an adjacent platesection 21 to insulate the spring contact assembly from the Wall of thelocking mechanism assembly. The locking mechanism and the insulatingplates are all secured between the upper and lower plates 12 and 13 bythe end plates 14 and 15'to form the switch assembly.

The locking mechanism comprises an L-shaped crank having arms 36 and 37,a crank locking trigge 33, a shutter mechanism 39 and appropriatesprings and 4-2 all secured within a locking mechanism housing 4%, thedisposition of which is shown in Pig. 4. The housing 43 is rectangularbox-shaped having sides which are cut away at various positions to allowfor'securing andoperation of the locking mechanism. A cover plate issecured to the housing by'screws 45. The crank trigger 38 is pivotablysecured about pin 46 between a spacer washer 5d. and an enlarged portion56 of the pin. The trigger crank has an extended end 47 that extendsfrom the housing through one side thereof and the surface below theextended end 47 forms a shoulder 48 which matches with a shoulder 49 onarm 36 of the L-shaped crank arm. The L-shaped crank arm is pivotablysecured about a rod 51 which extends entirely through the switch and isprovided with a bushing 52 havingends that fit into holes in the wallsurfaces, and spacers 53 which space the crank from the housing walls.Crank arms 36 and 37 are thicker than the trigger 38 and areapproximately as wide as the locking mechanism assembly housing. Arm 37extends towards the upper plate 12 parallel to the ends of the switchand perpendicular. to a key post slot 54 which passes through thelocking mechanism from the opposite end of housing 43. The axis of arm36 is perpendicular to arm 37, extending parallel to and along the lowerplate 13 and is provided with an extended end portion 55 which extendsbeyond the shoulder 49 and to one side of the locking trigger 38, toform a shoulder against which the shutter mechanism operates. of theloading trigger 38 and to the lever 37 which forces the bottom of theloading trigger against the upper end of arm 36 and at the same timepulls arms 37 toward the. inner portion of the switch in order to holdthe arm in position across slot 54. cured at one end on trigger pin 46and positioned be tween the enlarged portion 56 on the pin and a spacerwasher 57 between the shutter and the cover plate 44 of the lockingmechanism housing 43. The opposite end of the shutter is secured to thehousing 4-3 by a pin 53' and a spacer washer 57 which positions theshutter for. slidable motion along the loading trigger. The shuttermechanism has one end thereof connected to crank arm 36 by a spring 4-2and has a detent which fits over the extended end of the crank arm 36 toform a shoulder. 61 which is held against the crank arm "6 by spring 42.The other end of the shutter mechanism has a portion thereof bent at 90degrees to the main body positioned adjacent to the locking trigger andis adapted to fit across the slot 54 when the crank arm is in its lockedposition. The housing is provided with dowel pins 62 which positions thelocking mechanism in its proper position between the upper and lowerplates. Screw holes are also provided to hold the plates against theends of the locking mechanism housing.

The steps for assembling the locking mechanism assembly are as follows:Insert pin 46 into the loading trigger lock 38 and then place the spacerwasher 50 over the pin and insert the end of the pinin the hole in thehousing wall.

Spring 41 is connected to the lower portion The shutter 39 is slidablyse- Attach spring 41 to the loading trigger andcrank arm 37 andwithbushing 52 inserted into the L- shaped crank and a spacer washer 53 overthe end of the bushing, position the L-shaped crank in position with oneend of the bushing inserted into the appropriate hole in the housing.Next attach spring 42 to the end of crank arm 36 and to the end of theshutter 39 and position the shutter over pins 46 and 58 with shoulder 61in contact with the extended end portion 55 of the crank arm 36, thenposition spacer washers 57 over pins 46 and 58 and spacer washer 53 overbushing 52 and add the cover plate dd which is secured in position byscrews The load ing mechanism is now ready to be assembledin the switch.

As shown in Fig. 2 the spring contact assembly is formed by onecontinuous wire which is pivotably secured about rod 26 and insulatedtherefrom by any suitable insulating material. The spring assemblycomprises a spring contact end 64 to which a block or" plasticinsulation 65 such as Tenite has been secured along. the portion whichextends across slot 24. The spring'wire is wound about rod 26 a numberof turns, such as four and then is wound about a stationary rod 66 ofinsulating material such as laminated'plastic which is held in positionby the end plates, the plate sections 21 and the sides of the lockingmechanism housing The spring wire extends from rod 66 toward the lowerplate 13' and is brought out to a stationary terminal 67 where the wiresat the-terminal are shown as bent in opposite directions to provideeasier connections therewith. The rod 26 extends across the entire,switch and is connected to the crank arm 36 and moved therewith when thecrank is displaced. Suitable slots 68 are made in the end plates, theplate sections and the locking mechanism housing to allow for themovement of rod 26 when the l -sha'ped crank is pivoted'about rod 51.

The crank arm 37 is provided with dowel pins 71 on the outer side whichpositions the crank arm with re: spect to a plate 72 havingperpendicular ends 73 and held thereto by screws 74. The plate 72extends along the side, parallel to the upper and lower plates and theperpendicular end portions 73 extend parallel to each end plate and areconnected to rods,2 6 and 51 by any suitable means.

The key for selectively positioning. and locking the spring contacts intheir respective positions for engage: ment with the desired contactterminals comprises abody 75 which has an integral post 76 extendingtherefrom adapted to be insertedinto the key post slot 54 o f hepermutation switch. The post is ota length thatit'ex; tends into theswitch such that the end of the post makes contact with the crank arm.The key body 75 and the post 76 has a passage therethrough for receptionof a plunger rod 77. The end of the postx76 has a forked end portion inwhich an enlarged end-portion 7.8 fits for sliding motion and the upperend of the plunger is connected to plunger handle 79 by any suitablemeans such as a pin 81. The plunger handle 79 has two pins 82 positionedon opposite sides of the plunger which extend into holes 83 and act asguides for the handle, springs 34 positioned about pins 82 are seated inan enlarged portion of holes 85 andapplies force against the handle tohold the plunger in its upper position within the post.

The key body 75 is milled-with a longitudinal slot 85 extending acrossthe entire length of the body andother slots 86 are cut perpendicularthereto for reception of leaves 37. A slidekey 88.fits. into the slot85- and provides means for securing key leaves 37v to the key body.Eachof the leaves is formed with a slot 91 thereinwhich fits over theslidekey 88 and'are held parallel with the key post in slots 86 by aflat plate 92 which is secured to the body by screws 93. Side plates 94.are secured to the ends of thebody by screws 95'to providezprotectionfor thekey leaves. secured between the key post and the side plates. Thekey leaves are securedroffset with respect to the key post so that thekey can be inserted into the switch only one way. The arrangement of thekey leaves with respect to the body is shown in Fig. 6 which is a crosssection thereof and illustrates the manner in which the leaves are heldin position.

In operation of the device, the switch is connected to any desiredelectrical circuitry and then the spring contacts are selectivelypositioned and locked in place in order to provide a desired combinationof circuits. The spring contacts are positioned in their respectivepositions by first setting up the key with a desired arrangement ofspring contact leaves. After setting up the key, the key post and theattached leaves are inserted respectively into the key post slot and theleaf slots. The bottom surface of the key base will rest on the uppersurface of the switch such that the key post extends into the slot withthe end of the post adjacent the locking mechanism crank. Duringinsertion of the key, the key leaves contact the insulated portion ofthe spring arm contacts and forces them downwardly according to thearrangement of the leaves which positions the spring contacts adjacentto one of the stationary contact terminals. Once the key has beenpositioned into the respective slots, the plunger handle is forceddownwardly overcoming springs 84 wherein the lower end of the plungerextends beyond the key post to force the crank downwardly to displacecrank arms 36 and 37. At the same time the lock trigger 3-6 locks thecrank in its displaced position by action of the spring 41 which pullsthe trigger into position with shoulder 48 thereon seating behindshoulder 49 of the crank arm 36. When the crank has been forced downwardly by the plunger to displace the crank arms, red as positioned onarm 36 is displaced accordingly and moves the pivotably attached springcontacts into contacting position in front of their respective terminalcontact at which they have been positioned by the key leaves. Once thekey has been inserted into the switch and the crank mechanism has beenlocked in place the key can be removed and the spring contacts will beheld against their respective terminal contacts by the spring action ofthe spring contacts. Since the rod to which the spring contacts aresecured has been displaced by movement of the crank to move the springcontacts in front of their respective terminal contacts, the springcontact cannot by-pass the terminal contacts and must remain in contactwith the terminal contact until the locking trigger is actuated torelease the crank to which the spring contacts are secured. The switchwill remain in its preselected position until the locking trigger isreleased which then allows the spring contacts to return to theirneutral position and ready for another setting.

After setting the spring contacts and locking them in position the keyis removed and can be used to set other switches exactly as the previousone. if desired, the leaves of the key can be changed to anotherpredetermined arrangement in order to set other switches for other andditferent circuits.

When the key is withdrawn from the switch after setting the contactcircuits, the shutter 39 by action of spring 52 moves into positionacross the key post slot to prevent entrance of any other keys. When thetrigger is moved to release the crank mechanism the extended end portion47 of crank arm 36 contacts shoulder 61 on the shutter to move theshutter from across the slot.

As illustrated in Fig. l, the switch has three slots on each side of thekey post, each slot has a spring arm contact therein so the illustratedswitch can set up six different circuits. It will be obvious that thenumber of contacts can be increased to any desired number. This can bedone by two different methods, one is to have a nun ber of extendedstationary terminal rods which can be contacted by separate groups ofcontact spring arms, and another is to have more than one individualgroup of terminal rods and contact arms set side by side to be operatedby the same key. Such switches can be used for making test circuits fordifferent types of tubes wherein the same sockets may be used for tubeshaving the same bases. Other applications would be to control certaindisplay lights wherein different keys could control different panels oflights. With a switch having twenty-six extended terminal rods with morethan one group of contact spring arms, difierent words could be spelledout for dilferent display signs. The switch of the present invention isnot to be limited to the examples set forth above since it is obviousthat other uses will be apparent and the switch could be used thereforwithout departing from the invention.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teaching. It is therefore to beunderstood, that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A permutation switch comprising a plurality of stationary electricalcontact rods, a plurality of spring contacts each adapted to beselectively engageable with one of said stationary contact rods, saidspring contact being pivoted about a first rod connected with one arm ofan L-shaped crank, said L-shaped crank being adapted to be pivoted abouta second rod, a locking trigger associated with said crank arm andadapted to lock each of said spring contacts in a preselected contactingposition with one of said stationary contact rods.

2. A permutation switch comprising a plurality of parallel stationaryelectrical contact rods terminating at one end of the outside of saidswitch, a plurality of spring contacts each having one end adapted to beselectively engageable with one of said contacts rods and the other endterminating on the outside of said switch, said spring contacts beingpivoted about a first rod connected to one arm of an L-shaped crank,said L-shaped crank adapted to be pivoted about a second rod and adaptedto position said spring contacts in contact with said stationary contact rods, and a locking means associated with said crank arm andadapted to lock each of said spring contacts in a preselected contactingposition with one of said stationary contact rods.

3. A permutation switch comprising a locking mechanism, insulating platesections on opposite sides of said locking mechanism, a plurality ofmovable spring contact assemblies positioned between said insulatingplates and pivotably secured about a rod passing through said switch, aplurality of parallel stationary electrical contact rods extendingacross said switch perpendicular to said insulating plate section andterminating at one end on the outside of said switch, said stationaryrods being assembled on an arc juxtaposed the are about which the springcontacts move, an L-shaped crank pivotably secured within said lockingmechanism about a rod passing through said switch parallel to said firstmentioned rod, said first mentioned rod being connected to one arm ofsaid L.- shaped crank and adapted to position said spring contacts incontact with said stationary contact rods upon displacement of saidcrank and a locking means positioned within said locking mechanismjuxtaposed one arm or" said L-shaped crank and adapted to lock each ofsaid spring contacts in a preselected contacting position with one ofsaid stationary contact rods.

4. A permutation switch comprising a plurality of parallel stationaryelectrical contact rods having terminals on the outside of said switch,a plurality of spring contacts each adapted to be selectively engageablewith one of said contact rods, 21 key comprising a guidepost and leavesadapted to be inserted into said switch, said leaves en gaging saidspring contacts on insertion into said switch thereby moving said springcontacts to a preselected combination of positions with respect to saidcontact rods, locking means associated with said spring contacts forlocking said spring contacts in contacting position with a d preselectedcontact rod, and means in said key adapted for operating said lockingmeans.

5. A permutation switch comprising a plurality oi parallel stationaryelectrical contact rods having terminals on the outside of said switch,a plurality of spring contacts each adapted to be selectively engageablewith one of said contact rods, an L-shaped crank arm, said springcontacts being pivotable about an insulated rod secured in one arm ofsaid crank and terminating onthe outside of said switch, a keycomprising a guidepost and leaves adapted to be inserted into saidswitch, said leaves engaging aid spring contacts on insertion into saidswitch thereby moving said spring contacts to a preselected combinationof positions with respect to said contact rods, means associated Withsaid key for pivoting said L shaped crank and moving said springcontacts into. contact with their respective, contact rods, and means,for locking said L-sh ped crank in its d placed p ition whereby saidspring contacts are locked in contact with said contact rods. 1 l

6. A permutation switch comprising a plurality of parallel uniformlyspaced stationary electrical contact rods having terminals on theoutside of said switch, a pulrality of uniformly spaced, spring contactseach insulated from each other and adapted to be selectively engageablewith one of said contact rods, an L-shaped crank, a. rod of insulatingmaterial secured to one arm of said L-shaped crank parallel with saidcontact rods, said spring contacts being spaced along and pivotablysecured about said rod secured to said crank arm and having one endterminating on the outside of said switch and the other end terminatingadjacent said contact rods, a key comprising a guidepost and leavesadapted to be inserted into said switch, said leaves engaging saidspring contacts on insertion into said switch thereby moving said springcontacts to a preselected combination of positions with respect to saidcontact rods, said contact rods being positioned at the ends of saidspring contacts on an are along the movement of said spring contacts,means associatedwith said key for pivotably displacing said L- shapedcrank and moving said spring contacts into contact with their respectivecontact rod, and means for locking said L-shaped, crank in its displacedposition whereby said spring contacts are locked in contact with saidcontact rods.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,420,789 Valkenburg June 27, 1922

